More than half of Ontarians at risk of another blackout

Impact Research
News Release

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As the fourth anniversary of the biggest blackout in North American history approaches, survey results from Impact Research show that more than half of Ontarians surveyed believe there is a real risk that the province will experience another such event in the next two years.

Four years after the August 14, 2003 blackout left some 50 million people in the dark, including 10 million in Ontario, 52% of Ontarians believe they could be living through another prolonged power outage in the next two years. Impact Research conducted the study on behalf of Cossette Communication Group and its clients Bell Canada and Home Depot.

The study also asked Ontarians what actions they took when faced with a loss of power and about the relative importance they assigned to different goods and services during a blackout.

Most Ontarians (42%) mentioned getting candles, flashlights and batteries as being the first thing they did when they experienced a power cut while others said that the first thing they did when the lights went off was pick up a phone to make a call.

The survey found that the top six goods and services Ontarians believe to be essential or very important to have during a blackout were flashlights, candles and matches, appropriate food, drinkable water, heating and a telephone.

The survey also found that while 57% of Ontario respondents rated a telephone as being "essential" or "very important", 55% did not know that cable phones or VoIP-based telephony would not provide reliable service during a prolonged blackout because these technologies depend on power.

Cossette, Bell Canada and Home Depot offer the following advice to Ontarians interested in preparing their homes and families to deal with a prolonged power blackout:

1. Consult the websites and publications of public agencies like Emergency Management Ontario for detailed advice on emergency preparation and for comprehensive checklists of supplies and materials that will help you and your family cope in an emergency.

2. To ensure that you can make emergency or urgent telephone calls, make sure you have access to a traditional landline telephone that will remain fully functional during a prolonged blackout.

3. Have a three day emergency supply of food and water and a one week supply of any required medications. Remember that the lights will be out and the power will be off so the food should be non-perishable and ready to eat. You should have at least 4 litres of water per person per day.

4. To ensure that emergency workers and first responders are able to communicate effectively and to help maintain the 911 service, refrain from using 911 to report a blackout.

5. In addition to having an adequate supply of flashlights, batteries, candles and matches do not forget to store any special batteries required to operate medical appliances and devices.

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